Read more about the Ocean City of 1880 this Sunday on The Pocomoke Public Eye!

If the last name Guy is in your family history, a 1912 news item from the Eastern Shore might be of especial interest to you, and of interest to everyone as well... in this week's TIME MACHINE edition!

Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers.. such as a big snow storm, a favorite school teacher, a local happening, something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about? It can be just a line or two or more if you wish. Your name won't be used unless you ask that it be. Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!

OCEAN CITY -- Police, family and friends are searching for a 22-year-old man who has been missing for nearly a week and was last seen at an Ocean City bar.

Lance Corey Gaines of Groton, N.Y., hasn't been heard from since the night of Friday, April 20. Ocean City police said he was last seen at Sandbar on 33rd Street at about 1 a.m. Saturday, April 21. One of the 20 or so friends and relatives who have traveled to town since then to form a makeshift search group said he had gone out for a walk and to the bar alone.

Gaines is 6 feet 4 inches tall, weighs 190 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes. When he was seen at the bar, he was wearing a dark gray hooded sweatshirt.

Gaines was on vacation with his family and was staying at the Bay Club Resort on 32nd Street for the weekend. Family members said he sent a text message to his girlfriend just after midnight.

His father, John Gaines, said his other son had spoken to a woman who works at Madison Beach Motel on North Baltimore Avenue who saw someone in the area on Monday afternoon who matched Lance Gaines' description, but that's the only additional lead they've gotten.

"My son talked to her, and she had details she couldn't really have had (if she hadn't seen him)," said John Gaines on Thursday. "So we're pretty confident, we think we have a likely sighting on Monday."

OCPD spokeswoman Jessica Waters confirmed a tip had been received from someone claiming they saw Gaines or someone who matches his description, but there hasn't been a confirmed sighting since his disappearance, despite police outreach and investigation and the hundreds of fliers and inquiries friends and family have been making into Lance Gaines' whereabouts.

Some people log on to Facebook to connect with friends. Others play games like, the very popular “Farmville”. For many people, online games provide hours of harmless entertainment. But one Facebook game may not be so innocent.

WHNT News 19 takes a closer look at the game “Pot Farm,” where the goal of the game is to grow and harvest marijuana.

On “Pot Farm” nearly a million people don’t care who sees them growing fake weed.

“Certain people are into certain things. Some peole are in to killing dragons and all that, some people might want to sit there and grow weed,” said Florence resident, Chance McMorrow.

Users start by planting hemp, the most basic pot plant.

The goal is keep the plants alive, while adding more plants to your farm. The rewards, stronger pot seeds, grow a more potent crop.

“There’s really no big deal about playing, I guess it’s just for fun,” said William Bullock, a gamer.

For many gamers, that fun comes from fulfilling a fantasy — cultivating an illegal marijuana crop, that in the virtual world, becomes very accepted and even celebrated.

“It seems pretty cool, I guess,” said McMorrow.

But for law enforcement, this game adds one more avenue in their constant battle against cannabis.

“When I first heard about it the other day, I had no idea what it was,” said Sheffield Police Chief Greg Ray.

So Ray logged in and took his first look at the game with WHNT News 19′s cameras rolling.

“This looks more like a Christmas tree than it does a marijuana plant,” said Ray. “I guess you can say it’s more of a comical thing.”

However, Chief Ray said that disguise may glamorize the game and the drug.

“One of the biggest messages you’re sending out is there are no repercussions, if you’re playing a game and you get caught you just reboot and start over again,” said Ray. “In real life that’s not the case.”

Critics say this Facebook “Pot Farm” looks like fun and games on a computer screen, but it may be teaching people how to grow a real pot farm.

And even William Bullock, who already told us he thinks this game is for entertainment purposes only, admits people could learn a few basics about becoming a real-life pot farmer.

“I would definitely, before you get into anything, go play this game and just get on what you should do,” Bullock said.

“I don’t think it teaches you how to be a pot farmer or a pot grower, no more than a dungouns and dragons game would teach you how to be a dragon slayer,” said Chief Ray.

It’s a virtual reality game that may give users a different kind of high.

Facebook requires users to be at least 21 years old before logging in to play Pot Farm.

Friday, April 27, 2012

What a delicious meal the ladies of the Crisfield Elks Lodge prepared for the mudbog drivers and guests! If you left the banquet that night hungry it was your own fault! In my opinion it was by far the best meal we have experienced since the banquets began. Thank you Crisfield Elks Lodge!

Most of us felt just a little out of place. It seemed strange to be in Crisfield at night instead of the morning hours. There were no mud trucks brought along, no mud...NO racing. And the only washing done that night was washing the dishes and the drivers weren't asked to do that. Seemed a little odd for all of us to be together and not be in the hot sun getting ready for a day of racing. Great to see everyone and congradulations to all of you that won trophies and/or awards.

Ocean City Police are asking anyone who has seen Gaines or who has had contact with him to notify Detective Carl Perry with the Ocean City Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division at 410.723.6604

Democratic parties combined. Much of the reason for this growth is due

to pent up frustration among those who are not identified with the

political class.

The special sessions of the legislature, slated to begin in mid-May, with one to follow in August, are only a means for politicians to raise taxes and re-visit pet projects. Change Maryland's message is focused on bringing
fiscal restraint and common sense to Maryland.

"As Maryland's budget negotiations were collapsing, Governor O'Malley was
addressing wind-energy proponents who chanted, 'all we are saying is give wind a chance,' " said Hogan. "It's difficult for hard-working families in Maryland to understand the Governor's priorities when he participates in pep rallies for wind
mills as people are struggling to find work and keep the gas tank full."

When it comes to a lack of fiscal restraint, Maryland's budget has

increased from $28.8 billion to $35.4 between 2007 and 2012. In the

so-called "doomsday budget," which was enacted by default, spending

actually increases $700 million, despite politicians who typically characterize it as a "cut."

The special session beginning next month is due to the inability of

the Governor, Senate President and House Speaker to come to terms on

tax increases. Although there are some personal animosities among

Maryland's top three elected officials, all are proponents of

increasing taxes to fuel more government spending.

Governor O'Malley, Senate President Miller and House Speaker Bush have

collectively held state office for about three-quarters of a century.

"When you talk about career politicians, nowhere is that more apparent

than in Maryland," said Hogan. "And Change Maryland is giving voice to

The Bay Queen took out yesterday for its first cruise down the Pocomoke River for the 2012 season.Yesterday must have been an active day for the Bald Eagles living on the great Pocomoke River. I can't remember never seeing an Eagle at some time while boating on the river but since this is the Spring season it's almost time, I would imagine, for the young to show. And no matter how many times you witness the flight of a Bald Eagle it is always worth the watch.

If birds don't interest you just sit back and relax.....

I found this photo of the Bay Queen on a Delmarva Discovery Center Newsletter from 2009.

There is a big change this season along the banks of the Pocomoke River in downtown Pocomoke City......

The new restaurant opening soon!!

Take A Cruise On the Scenic Pocomoke River

Pocomoke River Cruises!!!

Capt. John Riggi and the Bay Queen are all set for spring.
Tours are Thursday through Saturday at 1pm. Except on 4/20, 4/27 and 5/10 when tours will begin at 2:00 PM

Adult: $ 20/ Child $ 10Tickets can also be purchased individually rather than as a package.

Enjoy the Discovery Center for the day and a scenic cruise down the Pocomoke River on the Bay Queen.

Recall is limited to one formula of Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul distributed to 10 states

Diamond Pet Foods is recalling one production run of Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula dry dog food. One bag of the product has tested positive for Salmonella, and the recall of the four production codes is being conducted as aprecautionary measure.

We encourage consumers who have purchased Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula dry dog food with the specific production codes and best before dates to discard the product. Diamond Pet Foods apologizes for any potential issues this may have caused our customers and their dogs.No dog illnesses have been reported.

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula dry dog food is manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods and was distributed in Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia, who may have further distributed the product to other states, through pet food channels. The company is working directly with distributors and retailers who carry these products to remove them from the supply chain.

Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Individuals handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product.

Healthy people infected with salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, people who are more likely to be affected by Salmonella include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS and people receiving treatment for cancer.

Pet owners, who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, or who would like replacement product or a refund, may contact us at 800-442-0402.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

A cross is at the center of another church and state controversy in Rhode
Island.

Earlier this year, Jessica Ahlquist, 16, successfully sued to remove a school prayer banner from her high school in Cranston, R.I.

Now, an atheist group called Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) has written a letter
to Leo Fontaine, mayor of Woonsocket, R.I., stating that a cross in the parking
lot of the town's fire department is "unlawful" and requesting that the town
remove it.

According to the Daily Caller, the letter also asked that a
memorial angel and firefighter's prayer be removed from the department's
website. (Click here to read the letter from FFRF )The offending monument was unveiled in 1921 in memory of William Jolicoeur, a
member of the American Expeditionary Forces who was killed in France during
World War I, the Woonsocket Call explains. The monument was later
rededicated in May 1952 to honor three brothers killed in World War II. The
original monument was dedicated by French Field Marshall Ferdinand Foch, Supreme
Commander of the Allied Forces, who came to Woonsocket at the end of World War
1.

The mayor is exploring the city's options, but says he has no intention of
removing the cross. However, the cross could be relocated to private property if a lawsuit is
mounted. City
Council President John Ward informed the Woonsocket Call that the city is on
the verge of bankruptcy and cannot afford to get dragged into a costly legal
battle over a principle.

The controversy has prompted Tom Poole, a disabled veteran, and Barbara
Dardeen of Warwick to start a vigil at the monument. As WoonsocketPatch reports,
the couple is hoping to stop any removal of the cross: "We'll both spend as much time out here
as we need to, to make sure that the monument stays put," Dardeen said.

Take a unicorn, promises of fast-growing beards and a teal 1995 Pontiac Grand
Am, and what do you get?

Possibly the best used car ad you'll ever see.

It doesn't include anyone dressed as Uncle Sam, nor does it make promises
about low prices. The Seattle Craigslist ad promises that if you buy this car,
the experience will be "better than your last four romantic encounters,
combined."

"I know what you're asking yourself, 'Am I man enough to handle a car this
flawless?'" the ad reads. "The short answer is no."

The car is owned by Joe Strachila, of Everett, Wash., whose childhood friend
Kyle Miller "dug deep into his manly creativity center (a place often filled
with beer), and created the ad for me," Strachila said in an email to The
Huffington Post. The Washington State grad, now an engineer for an aerospace
company in Seattle, wrote that it's time to let someone else have the joy of
owning the Pontiac.

Strachila's cellphone battery quickly died after the ad was posted. No doubt
because he was getting calls from throngs of buyers in the Seattle area who are
dying to get their hands on this teal Pontiac masterpiece.

Craigslist took down the ad shortly after the auto enthusiast website
Jalopnik linked to it, declaring it "The Best Craigslist Car Ad Ever."

Miller, a communications manager near Seattle, said graphic design is a part
of his job, and humor is a hobby.

"As you can probably guess, I love humor that blows simple things completely
out of proportion," he said in an email. "I thought the ad was funny, but I am
completely taken aback by the response."See the ad (we scrubbed out Strachila's phone number, because we might want
to buy the car ourselves) below:

Read more about the Ocean City of 1880 this Sunday on The Pocomoke Public Eye!

Is the last name Guy in your family history? A 1912 news item might be of especial interest to you, and of interest to everyone as well... in this week's edition!

Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers.. such as a big snow storm, a favorite school teacher, a local happening, something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about? It can be just a line or two or more if you wish. Your name won't be used unless you ask that it be. Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!

Tia Johnson and Clarence (Junior) Jackson were both denied bond yesterday by Worcester County Circuit Court Judge Thomas C. Groton III. The writer of the article must have meant Jackson and not Johnson as being unruly and making threatening comments. That's just Junior Jackson being himself.........

Accused killer, accomplice denied bond in Sheddy case

Brian Shane

Writer

Daily Times

SNOW HILL -- Two people accused of participating in the 2007 slaying of a Delaware woman were denied bail and are set to face murder and accessory charges at trial in June.

Deputy Worcester County State's Attorney Abigail Marsh said there are no allegations that Johnson participated in the "brutal" murder, but that Johnson "most certainly" aided in the cover-up and posed a flight risk.

"Christine Sheddy had her skull essentially bashed in by a shovel," Marsh said. Based on "the horrific nature of this crime," she asked the judge to deny bond for both.

Jackson and Johnson -- who remain engaged to be married, Jackson told the judge -- are now set for a June 8 motions hearing and a June 13 Jury trial.CONTINUE READING....

Arrest made in Phylicia Barnes case

By Justin Fenton and Peter Hermann, The Baltimore Sun

An arrest has been made in connection with the killing of Phylicia Barnes, the 16-year-old from North Carolina who vanished while visiting family in Northwest Baltimore in 2010 and was found dead months later in the Susquehanna River.

Word broke late Wednesday from Barnes' relatives, and was confirmed by authorities. The attorney for Michael Johnson, the former boyfriend of Phylicia's older sister, confirmed that his client had been taken into custody at about 11:30 p.m. on unknown charges. Johnson had been the last person to see her alive.

Baltimore Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi confirmed that Johnson was arrested in connection with the Barnes' killing, but could not elaborate on the charges filed. An announcement was expected Thursday morning.

Russell Neverdon, Johnson's attorney, said his client maintains his innocence. He said members of the Warrant Apprehension Task Force came to Johnson's house, arrested him, and took the keys to the house. He said he had previously instructed his client not to answer any questions in the event of his arrest.

Barnes' case attracted national media attention. The honors student disappeared without a trace, and detectives worked round-the-clock in an effort to find her. Her body was later found floating in the Susquehanna River nearly a year ago to the day. The case sparked a bill in the Maryland legislature called "Phylicia's Law," which supporters say will improve coordination between law enforcement and community groups in missing children cases.

Reached by phone, Phylicia's father, Russell Barnes, said the family was "rejoicing" over news of the arrest. He said the family had long suspected Johnson. He said he believes the new Phylicia's Law helped thrust the case back into the spotlight.

Rural kids, parents angry about Labor Dept. rule banning farm chores

By Patrick RichardsonJournalistA proposal from the Obama administration to prevent children from doing farm chores has drawn plenty of criticism from rural-district members of Congress. But now it’s attracting barbs from farm kids themselves.

The Department of Labor is poised to put the finishing touches on a rule that would apply child-labor laws to children working on family farms, prohibiting them from performing a list of jobs on their own families’ land.

Under the rules, children under 18 could no longer work “in the storing, marketing and transporting of farm product raw materials.”

The new regulations, first proposed August 31 by Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, would also revoke the government’s approval of safety training and certification taught by independent groups like 4-H and FFA, replacing them instead with a 90-hour federal government training course.

Rossie Blinson, a 21-year-old college student from Buis Creek, N.C., told The Daily Caller that the federal government’s plan will do far more harm than good.

“The main concern I have is that it would prevent kids from doing 4-H and FFA projects if they’re not at their parents’ house,” said Blinson.

“I started showing sheep when I was four years old. I started with cattle around 8. It’s been very important. I learned a lot of responsibility being a farm kid.”

In Kansas, Cherokee County Farm Bureau president Jeff Clark was out in the field — literally on a tractor — when TheDC reached him. He said if Solis’s regulations are implemented, farming families’ labor losses from their children will only be part of the problem.

“What would be more of a blow,” he said, “is not teaching our kids the values of working on a farm.”

The Environmental Protection Agency reports that the average age of the American farmer is now over 50.“Losing that work-ethic — it’s so hard to pick this up later in life,” Clark said. “There’s other ways to learn how to farm, but it’s so hard. You can learn so much more working on the farm when you’re 12, 13, 14 years old.”

John Weber, 19, understands this. The Minneapolis native grew up in suburbia and learned the livestock business working summers on his relatives’ farm.

He’s now a college Agriculture major.

“I started working on my grandparent’s and uncle’s farms for a couple of weeks in the summer when I was 12,” Weber told TheDC. “I started spending full summers there when I was 13.”

“The work ethic is a huge part of it. It gave me a lot of direction and opportunity in my life. If they do this it will prevent a lot of interest in agriculture. It’s harder to get a 16 year-old interested in farming than a 12 year old.”

Weber is also a small businessman. In high school, he said, he took out a loan and bought a few steers to raise for income. “Under these regulations,” he explained, “I wouldn’t be allowed to do that.”

This weekend thousands of motorcyclists are anticipated to visit OceanCity, as the 2nd Annual Bikes to the Beach Spring Rally is scheduled to begin on Thursday, April 26. In correlation with Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, which begins May 1, the Ocean City Police Department is reminding motorists and motorcyclists to “share the road” with each other and be extra alert to keep motorcyclists safe.

Motorcycles are vehicles with the same rights and privileges as any motor vehicle on the roadway. Motorists and bicyclists should perform visual checks for motorcyclists by checking mirrors and blind spots before they enter or exit a lane of traffic, and at intersections. In addition, pedestrians should also get into the habit of scanning for motorcyclists who might be hidden by other traffic.

“As summer nears and special events such as Bikes to the Beach are held, more and more motorcyclists will be hitting the roads inOceanCity,” said Ocean City Police Chief Bernadette DiPino. “A motorcycle is one of the smallest vehicles on our roads, often hidden in a vehicle’s blind spot. Every driver needs to aggressively look for them before changing lanes or merging with traffic.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists are much more vulnerable than a passenger vehicle occupant in the event of a crash. “Motorcyclists have responsibilities too,” continued Chief DiPino. “Motorcyclists should obey all traffic rules, be alert to drivers and pedestrians, never ride while impaired or distracted and always wear a helmet.”

In order to help keep motorcyclists safe inOceanCity, the Ocean City Police Department would like to offer the following tips:

Remember, a motorcycle is a vehicle with all of the rights and privileges of any other motor vehicle.

Always allow a motorcyclist the full lane width—never try to share a lane.

Perform a visual check for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or exiting a lane of traffic, and at intersections.

Don’t be fooled by a flashing turn signal on a mo­torcycle – motorcycle signals are often not self-canceling and riders sometimes forget to turn them off. Wait to be sure the motorcycle is going to turn before you proceed.

Allow more following distance – three or four sec­onds – when behind a motorcycle so the motorcyclist has enough time to maneuver or stop in an emer­gency.

Never tailgate. In dry conditions, motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars.

Never drive while distracted.

In addition, motorcyclists can increase their safety by:

Avoiding riding in poor weather conditions.

Wearing brightly colored protective gear and a DOT-compliant helmet.

Using turn signals for every turn or lane change, even if the rider thinks no one will see it.

Combining hand signals and turn signals to draw more attention to themselves.

Using reflective tape and stickers to increase visibility.

Positioning themselves in the lane where they will be most visible to other drivers.

Never driving while impaired or distracted.

In hopes of a safe and successful “Bikes to the Beach” event and Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, the Ocean City Police Department reminds all drivers and motorcyclists to help share in the responsibility of keeping all road users safe, and do your part by safely “sharing the road.”

NARRATIVE: Yesterday, Julie Holland of Pocomoke, Maryland was charged with a single-count criminal information for theft scheme over $100,000. Holland had been employed by Nock’s Tire Service as the bookkeeper for more than fifteen years before her employment ended in November 2011. The filing of this criminal information comes on the heels of a five-month-long investigation into missing funds from Nock’s Tire Service, Inc., Mason Quality Homes, and Mason Trucking, LLC, all Pocomoke businesses owned by Carlton Mason. The total dollar amount of the alleged thefts exceeds $400,000.

The Worcester County Bureau of Investigation was asked to investigate and Detective Corporal Robert Trautman, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation after being provided extensive documentation from Charles Barnes, the General Manager of Nock’s Tire Service. Detective Corporal Trautman interviewed Holland, who at first denied her involvement with any theft from Nock’s Tire Service. Once confronted with bank records and credit card documents showing unauthorized transfers of money to her account from Nock’s Tire Service’s business checking account, Holland admitted to taking the funds. She later gave a written statement acknowledging that she took over $400,000 from her former employer. Holland stated that she had suffered some financial hardship, but could not explain where all of the money had gone.

The case is schedule for a May 2012 court date in the Worcester County Circuit Court.

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